Hello everyone! It's been a long while since I last posted a blog. I've been quite busy here in Hargeysa and it has finally paid off. I recently founded the Afrikanation Artists Organization which is designed to empower artists and the community under the belief that art DOES have the power to create positive change in society and throughout the world. We recently held our first event along with Somaliland Culture and Sports Association at Panorama Conference Hall in Hargeysa, Somaliland/Somalia.

It was a celebration! A Celebration of Art and Culture in Hargeysa and the turnout could not have been better.

I recently wrote an article covering the event which can be found at Bartamaha, a Somali news website here http://www.bartamaha.com/?p=26908

Afrikanation Artists Organization (AAO) and Somaliland Culture andSports Association (SOCSA) teamed up to present a “Celebration of Artand Culture” in Hargeysa, Somaliland/Somalia on April 28th, 2010. Thiswas a celebration of traditional and recent artistic flavors and forthe foundation of Afrikanation, which is a local non-profit,non-governmental organization designed to empower African artists andtheir communities under the belief that art does have the power topositively change society and the world

.When you first walked into the Panorama Hall that night, one couldnot help but notice the paintings that lined the walls. Thirteen giftedartists based here in Hargeysa, displayed beautiful images reflectingtraditional and contemporary Somali society. Paintings of camelswalking with grace as they were led across the plains, to those drawingattention the challenges faced by Somali people, such as migration andwar were on display.Gazing across this long line of evidence affirming the talent thatexists here, your eyes were then led to a table filled with many tinyhands busily working to create our artists of our future. Working withNajma Axmed Xaashi, an artist from Mogadishu, the youth produced somedynamic pieces with art supplies donated by students at CaliforniaCollege of the Arts and supporters

. Afrikanation partnered with DefneBeyce, a Graduate Design student at California College of the Arts inSan Francisco, California, USA and Ismail Ismail, a great supporteralso residing in California, to organize and deliver these much-neededart supplies. Art supplies are virtually unobtainable in this regiondue to high price and proximity, and it is one of Afrikanation’sfounding goals to make supplies accessible to artists who need them.Crayons to professional level acrylic paints donated were quickly putto use in the youth art station and weekly Afrikanation Artist Workshops.The night officially opened with a Koranic reading and song by IlyasMohamed Omar, a dynamic eight year old, then cultural song and dance bySomaliland Culture and Sports Association. SOCSA is a local,non-profit, non-governmental organization that educates the youth oncurrent economic, social and health related challenges and theimportance of physical education through sport

. The dancers lit up theroom dressed in traditional Somali attire as they swirled to the beatand songs of our ancestors. Seeing the faces of the young people thatfilled the crowd lit with excitement brings hope that these traditionswill be passed on for many generations to come.Following the cultural dance were the break-dancing Groovies. TheGroovies enlivened the audience with their creative storytellingthrough dance. This dynamic group of teenage boys and SOCSA togetherrepresent the diversity that exists in our youth today. Hani Abdi Aliutilizes fashion as a tool to address traditional styles of dress witha new flair through her new line of dresses that were worn at the event.Mohamed Bulshaawi and Abdirahim Daalalayn shared their gift of songwith a crowd of excited listneners anxious to hear more

. All in all,this night was a blessed celebration of art, talent and culture thatAllah gifted us with right here at home.This event would not have been the same without great support of thecommunity. To Panorama, Lucy University, Defne Beyce, Ismail Ismail,California College of the Arts, art supply donors, friends of the artsand certainly not least the artists, musicians, poets, dancers,designers, supporters and friends shared their gifts and helped duringthe celebration, thank you. This sets the stage for many positiveexchanges in the future celebrating our art and our culture with thecommunity at large.

Comments

Doreen Baingana
on May 25, 2010 at 06:35PM

Hi Eidart,I really like your photos and the work you are doing in Somaliland.I am a writer from Uganda who plans to travel to Hargeisa at the end of June. It would be lovely if we could talk some more before my trip: I want to know as much as I can before I travel! You can google my book "Tropical Fish" if you want. I hope to hear from you!Doreen

Ebony Iman
on May 31, 2010 at 04:31AM

Hello Doreen!

I would love to help in any way I can to prepare you for your coming trip! Please email me at eid@eidart.com. I got the chance to read the first few pages of your book on Amazon! It's captivating and now I must prepare my order.

Good luck as you prepare and for your coming trip. Talk to you soon!Ebony